ADHD

Attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) is a mental and behavioral disorder that affects approximately 10% of school going children. Though the reason is not known, the disease mainly affects the boys. If the condition is not well managed, it can affect a child’s social and academic aspects.

Many children seek for attention at their early stages. However, ADHD children’s condition persists for a long period. A parent should identify the symptoms early enough so that they can manage the condition as early as possible. These signs will depend on the type of the condition; whether the inattentive type or the hyperactive impulsive type.

One of the signs of the inattentive ADHD is trouble paying attention or focusing on simple tasks. Such children will end up making many errors while performing tasks, and may not complete them. Mostly, they are disorganized and can be distracted quickly. They will also have problems listening. Further, they will avoid all tasks that require mental input.

A child with hyperactive impulsive type will tend to have excessive running or climbing. Further, they are unable to keep quiet during play or even remain sited for a long time. They will also tend to blurt out answers even before they have heard the question.

Most children show the signs of both the inattentive and hyperactive ADHD types. A pediatrician will confirm this condition after observing some of the signs of the condition and listening to their history. Normally, the parent or guardian will be requested to confirm that the signs are different from what is experienced by other children under the same age bracket and that the behavior has persisted for more than six months. Behavioral patterns related to a stressful environment at home or school should also be ruled out.

Though ADHD cannot be treated, management can be done through medicine and behavioral therapy. An individualized long-term plan is developed to help the child control their behavior. Essentially, the right atmosphere is created at home and resources are made available for the child to thrive. A close follow-up and monitoring by the doctor is also done. Additionally, parents are trained on how to manage the condition.

The types of medicine administered to the affected children are stimulants and anti-depressants. Fortunately, the condition may become less severe as the child grows older. The hyperactivity may ease as the child becomes an adult. However, if the condition had not been managed early enough, the adult will still have problems of organization and focusing, which will further affect their entire life.